Out of the 244 candidates who successfully passed the second round, more than 60 chose to retire, leaving only 180 brave souls to continue with the exam. Though those who withdrew were no longer in the running for the top ranks, their ability to pass the second round had already proved their strength, ensuring them a spot in ordinary institutions of higher learning. However, the remaining competitors had their eyes set on the elite institutions.
"The rankings after the second round will now be announced," a voice declared.
Lin Moyu – Total points: 1,605
Zuo Mei – Total points: 470
Xia Xue – Total points: 270
Wang Zihao – Total points: 265
The crowd grew tense. Wang Zihao's face turned red with disbelief as he jumped up, shouting, "This is impossible!"
"How could he have scored so high?" he protested.
By Wang Zihao's calculations, given that hell difficulty allowed for one monster kill every five seconds and each monster earned five points, the maximum possible score within 30 minutes should have been 1,800 points. But no one could kill a monster every five seconds without pause. Most candidates could manage between 200 and 400 points, with Zuo Mei's 470 being particularly impressive. But Lin Moyu's 1,605 points?
It implied he had killed 301 monsters—nearly ten per minute. "Is this guy even human?" some whispered. Wang Zihao felt the impulse to accuse Lin Moyu of cheating, but he knew better than to voice such a claim. The exams were under constant surveillance, and no one, not even the highest powers in the Shenxia Empire, would risk tampering with the integrity of the exam. Cheating was a sure ticket to destruction.
Outside the examination room, Lu Yun, Lin Moyu's mentor, was ecstatic. His hands trembled as he held a shaking cup, spilling water as he exclaimed, "This student of mine... He's incredible!"
"Indeed," another examiner said with a wry smile. "Incredible is one way to put it. Unbelievable, even."
Back in the exam room, Lin Moyu remained unfazed, as calm as ever. As the trial tower cast a beam of light over the candidates, restoring their energy and mental clarity, the announcement for the third round echoed through the hall.
"The next round of exams will now begin. In this round, you will face a boss-level monster. The difficulty levels are as follows:
Normal: 100 pointsNightmare: 300 pointsHell: 500 points."
This round would test individual combat ability to the fullest. It was a one-on-one fight against a boss-level monster, and no assistance would be allowed.
Without hesitation, Lin Moyu stepped forward and calmly stated, "I choose hell level."
His choice triggered murmurs among the examiners. "As expected, this kid is going for hell difficulty again," one commented. "With his skills and those summoned warriors, it looks like he'll be number one this time, too."
"Don't be too sure," another examiner warned. "There are still two rounds to go. Anything can happen."
Meanwhile, Wang Zihao fumed. The gap between him and Lin Moyu was now a staggering 1,300 points. Though he had come for the provincial champion title, he was struggling to stay within the top five. Glaring at Lin Moyu, he muttered under his breath, "After the exams are over, you'd better hope I don't get my hands on you."
Nonetheless, he too chose the hell difficulty, determined to claw back his position. Both Xia Xue and Zuo Mei also selected the hell challenge. With their respective strengths—Xia Xue's elemental magic and Zuo Mei's dexterous combat skills—they were confident in their ability to handle a boss-level monster.
With everyone's choices made, the examiners initiated the fourth round. Giant, fearsome monsters appeared before the candidates: creatures with wolf heads and dual swords, known as Wolf Orc Captains.
[Wolf Orc Captain (Boss)]
Level: 15
Strength: 1,000
Agility: 800
Spirit: 500
Physique: 1,000
Skill: Chaotic Wind Slash
The stats revealed the danger these monsters posed. Lin Moyu eyed the beast, but to him, the "hell" difficulty seemed exaggerated. These monsters were far weaker than the hell-level bosses he'd encountered in actual dungeons. He knew this discrepancy was intentional—the exam was designed to challenge, but not kill.
"Begin!" the examiner signaled.
Lin Moyu gave a bored sigh and ordered his summoned skeleton warriors into action. They rushed forward with synchronized fury, unleashing their Furious Blow attack in unison. With two swift, precise strikes, the Wolf Orc Captain crumpled to the ground—dead.
The room fell silent.
"Another instant kill," one examiner murmured in disbelief.
"He's not even giving the others a chance to shine," another said, shaking their head.
Lin Moyu's ease and dominance were now so overwhelming that the examiners themselves seemed at a loss for words. The exams were supposed to test the limits of these young talents, but Lin Moyu was pushing the boundary between mortal ability and something more...